You were very lucky! Glad to hear no one was hurt. Missy is so cute! I think alot of people can't handle it and don't know what to say so they try to be funny, and end up being jerks!

It's gotten so bad here, I even check my fenced yard before I let my Yorkies out. One has to be overly protective with the smaller dogs bc they can trigger a prey drive in larger dogs. I'm going to order some pepper spray and I already ordered a pet stroller from Dog.com $29.00 on clearance. I don't care if people laugh, at least we'll be safe. After reading about so many situations here on YT, I'll be making at lot of decisions that normally I wouldn't think about doing ie: When in Petsmart, if there are too many big dogs, I'll wait till they leave before I shop. If there are big dogs at the groomers, I will cancel and reschedule or do it myself at home. If there are dogs running loose in the park, I won't get out of the car. I will never put my dogs in a situation where they could possibly be hurt or killed. I will never assume that people with big dogs on a leash have total control of their dog, regardless of what they say!

I've posted it here before but I carry pepper spray whenever I walk Sadie. My husband teases me about it but I'm not taking any chances. I actually bought it at obedience class. They sell it just for that reason. The teacher told a story about her lab that was attacked by another dog. He was destined to be a therapy dog but because of the attack was afraid of other dogs and couldn't pass the test required. I'm so glad your baby is ok!

Big dog
 

Just wanted to say that it isnt always a BIG dog that comes to attack....I had little Trevor out trying to work off some of his energy....and we were charged by a rat terrier with no owner in sight.....it even crossed the street to get us.....who would let a little dog out without supervision???????:confused:

It infuriates me when people haven't taught their kids to ASK before appraoching someone's dog.....I'm proud of the fact that Mia will always say, 'may I stroke your dog?' and more often than not the answer is yes! It must be frightening for a dog (especially a small one) to suddenly have eager little hands coming towards it.

I'm pleased to hear that Missy wasnt hurt, but it must have been so frightening! So sad that the owners of the boxer are so irresponsible. You see dogs off lead in most parks here and a good friend of mine who has rottweilers, will often muzzle them both if h is somewhere and there are alot of children/other dogs around....not because they are dangerous, but for other people's peace of mind. Both dogs have been muzzled on ocassion since they were pups so they are used to it. Last time he visited a local park and did this he got yelled at by a woman who said the muzzles were 'cruel' and he was just doing it to 'create a panic' and make his dogs look 'hard'. He got quite upset because he thought he was doing the opposite!

This happened to me at a Dog Park with a Boston Terrier charging at my poor Pablo. The owner acted like it was no big deal. I feel your pain. Lots of rude people in this world....

OMG:eek: I'm so glad that you and Missy are safe! That woman shouldn't own ANY dog, let alone a big one:cry:

People like that are the reason that I don't take my girls ANYWHERE, anymore:( And that stinks!

Kudos to you, btw, for NOT kicking her butt, thought I'm sure you would've liked to:laugh:

Hey there:) I saw your comment about the groomer, and wanted to tell you that they should do what ours does---They have certain days for large breeds, and other days are for small dogs only. You can't prevent ALL attacks or fights between dogs, but at least if they're the same size, they have a fighting chance of not being injured too badly. Ask your groomer if they'd be willing to do that. Why should customers be inconvenienced because they're worried about their dogs' safety, right?

If the dogs are nice, I see no reason why you should muzzle them.

I've seen more mean little dogs in my lifetime than big dogs. And literally EVERY Rottie I've encountered personally in my life has been a sweetheart. Jackson's been around two very well behaved Rotties in Petsmart and they did just fine. It's usually pretty easy to read a dogs body language and if I get uncomfortable with the way a larger dog is holding his tail, or his mouth closes all the way, or he gets fixated on Jackson, I will simply take Jackson away from the situation calmly. I've noticed Jackson gets MORE scared and unsure when I am holding him. He's more comfortable meeting a dog in the proper way, on the ground, sniffing each other. I just think it's so discriminatory to single out breeds or larger dogs. (And this isn't directed towards you... just in general! :)) Yes, I believe we should take measures to protect our little ones because I completely understand how fragile a lot of Yorkies are and big dogs can definitely accidentally hurt them just by their larger size. But at the same time, it's sad to read how many little Yorkies on here don't get taken anywhere anymore... that's not fair to your dog. They are STILL dogs - big or small!

I really hope that it doesn't sound like I was discriminating against large breed dogs. I love big dogs and that's all that I owned before getting Missy. My last dog before Missy was a Rottweiller/Lab cross and was the best dog in the world. I don't think the size of a dog dictates whether it is dangerous or not. My post was just a vent about the owners of the dog and how they dealt with this situation. I was never angry at the dog or the fact that it broke away from its owners, accidents happen. What ticked me off was her nonchalent comment to her dog about how Missy would have been a tasty snack, and the fact that she patted her dog on the head basically praising her for her actions, AND she never apologized! She thought that her dog trying to attack Missy was funny, not even caring that if her dog had managed to catch Missy she probably would have killed her. I have alot of experience with boxers, many of my friends own boxers, and my Mom owns one. They ARE an excitable breed with a high prey drive, which is why I feel it's important that the owner be a good pack leader. My Mom can't let her guard down for one moment with her boxer. She is trained to not even glance at another dog or person while walking. Boxers have alot of energy and they're SOLID muscle. A dog like that needs to be well balanced if it is going to be out in a public park around hundreds of children and other dogs. Anyways, bottom line is ANY dog can be dangerous no matter what it's size. I just wanted to be clear that I would never discriminate again a dog because of it's size or breed. I ♥ all dogs.

I have a large breed dog, well med-large and of course my yorkie! I don't mind letting either of them "meet" other dogs but it is the owners I can't stand sometimes! Lately we have been going to the highschool around the corner which has a fenced in soccer field, we close the gate and let our dogs run without the leash in there, and I mean I understand people want to socialize and all but I really can't stand when people just come racing over to us and let their dogs go without a lease, WITHOUT even talking to us first about it!. Some people just let their dogs run wild and I worry for Stormy too because she has went throug halot and the last thing I want is an accident.

Poor Missy must of been so scared!! I am so sorry for you, that girl was just ignorant and rude!! I suggest you find a school around your house and go in the evenings when there isn't too many people around. Thats what we do, we encounter less people.

Just like people..
 

I find it similar to people.Some parents or care givers of children,whether it be nannies or grandparents are either on top of things and correct bad,rude disobedient behavior,and stop it right then and there,and then there are people that just sit there looking at you with that "deer in the head light look" It's all about being a responsible adult. Pets or children...consequences to bad behavior...Not brain surgery folks. I'm glad Lil Missy is o.k. and stick to a controlled enviroment. I've had to pull my kids out of daycare for repeated biting of my skin child...and it happened over and over and nothing was done,SO I DID SOMETHING MYSELF.:eek:

Oh no, I totally understand your post!! :) No need to explain, I agree w/ you. I saw another post in here somewhere about the big dogs and that's who I was directing that too ;)

I agree!

OMG!!! :mad:

My baby-girl! Thankfully you both are o.k. I am sooooo P****d off!:mad:. I'm proud of you for saying what you did, but if that happened when I was there, I would have tore her another backside for that comment. I just don't understand people.:angry:
You're a good Mama. Good job snatching her up!

:hug:
~K

wow, i am so glad that missy is ok. how scary. that girl is such a rude idiot.

Reading this makes blood shoot out of my eyes! People are so nasty and rude I really am finding it more and more difficult to deal with it without loosing my cool. It seems like it's getting worse all the time. Those of us who try to be responsible pet owners and act respectable towards others just get clobbered. Truly that woman was ignorant and just taking up air needed by the rest of us and she certainly didn't need a dog, large or small but it isn't going to change, at least not for the better. There are no answers and I guess that is the frustration, we know we will keep running into these idiots and have to do the best we can to handle the situation as it comes.
Glad it turned out OK for you.

wow i know how you feel...when i had Mei Ling in confirmation class there as a big akita i think...and he was persistent with trying to get Mei Ling...and I overheard the owner say wow he must think she is a one of those squeaky toys at home...and i said well keep him away from her...and i remember one evening when we were doing one of the walks she lost grip of her leash and sure enough her big akita came charging and me and Mei Ling...I of course screamed and picked Mei Ling up...the owner felt really bad...and all i kept thinking about was her comment about how he could think that she is one of his squeaky toys...and i sure wasn't going to have him get to her...just the thought of how these little yorkie plays with squeaky toys...now picture a big akita and squeaky toy...no way!!!!

The pepper spray is a great idea!!! I think I'm going to get some and hook it up to coco's leash!!! Twice, my neighbor's chihuahua almost ate coco!!! (they are suppose to be on a leash too, since we all live in an apartment) I also have a friend who had a lab and was walking her down the road and a pit bull attacked her sooo bad, she ended up passing away a month later from the injuries. She couldn't break up the fight. So sad. People are idiots.

Just always be extra careful. I just learned on Tuesday that one of my grooming clients maltese was attacked by a big dog and lost an eye. So tragic and so sad. Not sure how it happened but she is very protective of her little dog, so I can't even imagine. :eek:

Oh wow... I'm glad I haven't taken my little one to the park like I wanted. it is an off leash park and unfortunately there is no small dog area. It is SUCH and awesome park too. Everyone there is pretty nice thou, but I'd still be afraid. I've actually had two pitt bulls dart at my Versace, and pull their owner down doing so, when he was younger. Lucky nothing happened but I was so pissed at her. I lost it and told her she needs to neuter her dogs or train them! A few other not so nice things flew out of my mouth I'm sure. this was in my ex's neighborhood. The dog park that I usually take them to if I take them at all is one that is for small dogs and puppies only. It's wonderful. There's a big dog section too.

Once again a reason why i dont take honey to the dog parks.

Me being on a military post, for some reason, people get MORE stupid and MORE irresponsible. My neighbor took her dog and not 2 minutes later a couple brought over (i think...) a german shepard THAT HAD A MUZZLE ON IT! I mean REALLY? If your dog has to have a muzzle on while just walking why in the HE** do you think its ok to bring it into a dog park where there are free running dogs!?!?!?! Needless to say her dog got attacked and had to call the MPs to file a report. What's even worse is the couple said it was NOT their fault!! ARE YOU SERIOUS!?!?!? I'm still enraged! So the MPs had to come over to file a report so they WILL pay the vet bill... I can only imagine if it were honey. i'd be going insane!

They should have "small dog parks"!!!!!!

They do They do!! Have small dog parks I mean, in some places.

Did they not leave the muzzle on? I think if they did atleast they took that precaution. They should of started small thou, you know maybe they were trying to train him/her. Exposing him/her to other dogs? Like on "its me or the dog" I LOVE THAT SHOW and all her training tips work. But for them not to take the blame IS RIDICULOUS.

Thank you....
 

I just had to write and thank you. I read your post the other day and then I was walking my little one last night around the neighborhood a bit later than usual. As we got close to home it had gotten almost dark - more than I would have thought or we would have taken a shorter walk. Suddenly a big black dog who had gotten loose from his backyard was charging at Bella. It was so close I didn't have much time to react and did what you described by pulling the leash up in the air and her harness lifted her out of the dog's reach and into my arms. I had to kick at the dog to keep it away from her - it was so persistent and tried to jump up. I ran up to the nearest house and rang the door bell and the guy came right away and went to get the dog (it wasn't his)- it had collar and tag on and he was going to call the owner. Bella was shaking so much and I was so shaken that we just went home once he was after the dog. I got online and ordered some Muzzle to carry when we walk from now on. I live in a very safe neighborhood with mostly wonderful neighbors, but most have really big dogs and they do periodically find ways to dig or escape out of their backyards... or the owner thinks the dog is able to be controlled by voice and they let them run around the front yard not on a leash :mad: Anyhow- I am just glad that Bella was not hurt and I am so appreciative that I read your post about how to just pull her up with the leash- it prevented her from being attacked.